Friends, family say body of missing Utah tech CEO found in California
Oct 13, 2019, 9:36 AM
Erin Valenti, a Utah tech CEO, has been missing since Monday night in California. Her friends tell KSL her body was found in a parked rental car in San Jose. (San Jose Police Department)
(San Jose Police Department)
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Friends and family of a missing Utah tech company CEO said Saturday the 33-year-old woman’s body had been found in California.
Valenti, last seen Monday afternoon, was expected to drive from Palo Alto to San Jose in a rental car, then catch a flight back to Salt Lake City where she was expected to receive an award from the Women Tech Council. She did not make her flight and never showed up for the award ceremony on Wednesday.
That same day, her husband posted an appeal on Facebook for information to help find Valenti.
Friends and family traveled to California to search for Valenti and help raise awareness about her disappearance.
The San Jose Police Department did not immediately confirm whether the body, found in a parked car, was that of Erin Valenti, but several friends confirmed the finding to KSL, and Valenti’s family sent out this statement:
Erin has been found. Please call off the search. We all greatly appreciate the effort and support people have provided. The family will release more information as they are able to.
The Santa Clara County coroner’s office will determine cause and manner of death, police said.
Valenti ran the Utah-based Tinker Ventures, a company that develops applications for web and smartphone. She was well-known and respected within Utah’s tech community.
Clint Betts, Executive Director of Silicon Slopes/Utah Tech Council, described Valenti as a “force for good” in a statement reacting to the news.
“It’s hard to imagine the Silicon Slopes community without her in it. Our hearts go out to her husband and family during this unimaginable time. We are devastated,” Betts wrote.
This story will be updated.
